Machine for bending metallic printing plates such as stereotype and electrotype plates



March 8, 927 c N.

. MACHINE FORBENDING METALLIC PRINTING PL TES SUCH A STERHOTYPE AND ELECTROTYPE PLATES 4 1 I Filed April 24, 1922' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 8, 1927. 1,620,041

C. N. TH MACHINE FOR BENDING METALLIC PRINTING PLATES SUCH AS STEREOTYPB AND ELECTROTYPE PLATES. v

' Filed April 24, 1922 3 She ts-Sheef; 2

March 8,1927. 1,620,041

C. N. SMITH MACHINE FOR BENDING METALLIC PRINTING PLATES, SUCH AS STEREOTYPE AND ELECTROTZIPE PLATES Filed April 24, 1922 fi'sheets-sheat 3 Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

.art stats,

ci-iiarsriait N. SMITH, o1: ELGIN,

eiae a y p iLLINois, assiencn on ONE-HALF 'ro w LLIa /i z, TOPPING, on ELGIN,inniiroisflaiiren Minnie SMITH AND LILYIRENE SlYIlE ni ncnmerons or sar CHRISTIAN NI DECEASED.

MACHINE son BENDING METALLIC PBJNTING' PLATES errors as sprain-scraps Ann ELEe'rnotrYnE sLATEs.

Applicatipn April 192 3. $erial No. ,310,.

This invention relates to that class of machines adapted to be used for bending metallic printing plates, such as stereotype or electrotype plates, into suit-ably curved form for use upon printing presses" requiring curved'or circular printing plates either in the 'form of: electroty pe' or stere'otypeplates;

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple, economical and efiicient machine for bending metallic printing plates," such as stereotype of electroty a'e plates.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from an inspection o'l 'the accompanying drawings, which are" made a part of this specification.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, details of construction and ar* rangeinent of parts, and in the inethodor propssof heating preparing and bending metallic printing plates, such as stereotype and electrotype plates, herein described and claimed.

Subject matter of inyention herein described and not claimed will be found described and claimed iii'an application Serial No. 63,114filed'by me and army name in 'the United States Patent Ufiice on October 17, 1925, for an improvement in processes for heating andbending metallic plates such as stereotype and electrotype plates,'to which attention is hereby directed. i

in the accompanying drawings Figure '1 isaplanyiew of a printingplate bending machine constructed inaccordance with my invention, and adapted to be used in the practice or my improved method or processo'f bending printin'gplate s, such as stereotype or electrotype plates;

Fig 2 is a View in central vertical section of the machine shown in Fig. 1, taken on line 2--2 of saidligure, loolzingin the direction indicated by the arrows; and showing the adjustable roller or cylinder, and the mechanism for adjustin the same, in front eleyation;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View taken on line 8-3 of Fig. 2' looking down, and showing the top of the stationary table,and the rotaijtable or turn table, and the means for supporting the bending rolls or cylinders,

and means for holding the lower extremities ofs'aid rolls in operative position;

' Fig.4 is'a i iew inperspective of a heating and bending rollor cylinder constructed in ac o dan e th my inve t ve and da t to be used in the practice oft my improved process of heating and bending metallic printing plates, such as stereotype and electrotype plates, and showing a netallic printing plate in position'to'be bent,'an'd outer fie'xible'bending sheets attached tothe periphery of the cylin le and strips and sheets of compressible material or temporary inatri -iorining material interposed between the metallic plate to bent andthe outer bending sheets isjan enlarged detail end View, looking downward, of a portion of the bending an, a ii riiiting plate process or being heated and bent, and the oiiter bending sheets and intermediate matrix-forming compressible pl'a o material or sheets, shown 'inFig.

is an enlarged detail View in perspective of a metallic printing plate. provided with a laye'r of compressible material such as paper pulp in a moist plastic condi:

tion laid upon the printing face and filling the spaces between the lines or type and be tween tlie printing faces or actual printing surifacesoi' the plate and having a plurality of flexible backing sheets, including an outer metallic backing s'he'etlaid upon or in parallel relation to the plastic layer or'fi'ller, and adapted tobe bent simultaneously while in operatiye engagement and in a'suitably lieatedcondition tddiythe intermediate layer'of plastic material and cause it to set andfornia"temporarymatrix While in contact with the printing'sur ace of the metallic printing plate, in accordance with myinventioni In constructing a machine for heating and beiiding'metallic printing plates, which may be either stereotype plates or electrotype platesQin accordance with my inyention, I provide a main frame 1, adapted to form a table or bed 2, and having supporting legs 3, adapted tosupport the'table or bed" in convenient position'for use.

'U'prigh't frame portions 4, which may be locatedat opposite ends at the table or bed lOO 2, are fixed to the mainframe and extend upward or in perpendicular relation to the surface of the table or bed 2. Supported upon the upper or outer ends of these frame arms or columns a is a top frame. member 5, which extends from end to end of the main frame and table and in parallel relation to the top surface of the table. The top frame or outer frame member 5, is thus supported in fixed position up and spaced apart in relation to the top surface of the table, and is adapted to form a strong and rigid support for the adjacent or upper ends of the heating and bending rolls, hereinafter described.

Ahollow main heating and bending roll 6 is provided, having an upper journal portion or axle 7 and a hollow hub or lower annular flange 8 projecting from the upper and lower ends of the roll, respectively. This main heating and bending roll is formed of metal and being hollow forms an inner upright heating chamber 9, having a central bottom axial opening 10, formed by the hollow hub or sleeve 8, and having upper outlet openings 11 in the upper wall 12, and in position to permit the escape of the heating fluid or gases and products of combust-ion.

Mounted on the inside of the heating and combustion chamber 9, formed by the hollow roll 6, is a series of upwardly and outwardly inclined battle plates 13, which are supported in superposed relation by a suitable supporting means which may be in the form of an upright axial depending rod 1 1, the upper end of which is secured to and depends from the axial center of the upper end of the roll 6, as shown in Fig. A supporting plate 15, fixed to the upper end. of the rod 1 1, and having its top face in contact with the inner face of the end wall 12, is rigidly se-- cured to said end wall by means of. bolts or rivets 16, or other suitable securing means. It is obvious, however, that the battle plat-es may be supported in operative position on the inside of the heating chamber 5-), by any ordinary and well known form of supporting means adapted to support the battle plates in properly spaced-apart superposed relatron so as to provide spaces 17, between the outer peripheries or edges of the battle plates and the inner peripheral wall 18, of the hollow heating and bending roll.

In order to provide suitable, simple and eificient means for rotatively supporting and heating successively and in any desired order, any desired number of interchangeable hollow heating and bending rolls 6, of different sizes or dimensions, so as to enable metallic printing plates of diti'erent sizes and dimensions to be heated and bent to different degrees of curvature, or so as to form the arcs of circles of difi'erent dia1neters, or adapted to be used upon printing presses, having rotative cylinders of different sizes or diameters, I provide a rotative platform or turntable 19, which is rotatively mounted upon the main frame 1, and, by preference, has its upper surface in substantially the same horizontal plane with the top surface of the stationary table 2. (See Fig. 2.) I

This turntable is, by preference, rotatively mounted in a circular opening or recess 20, in the main frame or stationary table 2, and has a hollow downwardly extending vertical axle 21, fixed to the turntable and journaled in a suitable bearing 22, in a supporting bracket 23, which is ri idly secured to the main frame 1, by means of bolts 24, or other suitable securing means, and adapted to form a strong and rigidstationary support for the turntable, and for the means for heating and operating the turntable and any heating and bending roll which may be :mounted upon the turntable and used in connection therewith, in accordance with my invention.

Fixed to and extending downward from the axial center of the turntable 19, and forming a part thereof, is a hollow casing, shell or body portion 25, which forms a central combustion chamber 26, in which is mounted a gas burner 27, which may be of any desired, ordinary and well. known or suitable form. The burner 27 is, of course, provided with a suitable supply pipe or passage 28, which is adapted to communicate with a suitable combustible fluid supply, which may be of any desired, ordinary and well known form. The combustion chamber 26 has an inlet opening 29, which is, by preference, formed in the axle 21 and adapted to admit air or other fluid to the chamber 26, and heating chamber 9, during the rotation oi the turntable and any heating and bending roll operatively supported thereby. The turntable 19 is provided with an axial opening 30, adapted to rcmovably admit the hollow hub or depending flange 8, so as to form an outlet or connecting passage leading from the combustion chamber 26 into the lower extremity of the heating chamber 9, of any heating and bending roll 6 which may be mounted upon the turntable.

' The depending bottom end flange or hub 8 of each of the interchangeable heating rolls 6, is provided with recesses 31 in the periphery of the hub and adapted to admit and netachably engage inwardly projecting corresponding lugs on the inner edge or perimeter of the turntable And the upper journal or axle 7 of each removable heating and bending roll 6, is removably mounted in a suitable bearing in the upper or outer frame member 5. A journal box. or bearing block 33, having projecting side flanges or roll 49 to be moved toward and from the adjacent bending roll 6, and to be constantly in position to extend over the outer peripheral portion of the turn-table 19. A bevel gear wheel 65, having a screw threaded axial opening therein, is mounted upon and in screw-threaded engagement with the nonrotative screw and a similar bevel gear 66, having a screw-threaded aXial opening therethrough, is mounted on and in screwthreaded engagement wit-h the lower nonrotative screw 62. An operating shaft 67 is rotatively mounted in suitable bearings 68, in the frame, and between and in perpendicular relation to the axes of the screws 60 and 62. And a bevel gear wheel 69 is mount-ed upon and in fixed relation to the upper extremity of said shaft 67,and in toothed engagement with the bevel gear wheel 65, already described. A similar bevel gear wheel 70 is fixed to the lower extremity of the shaft 67, and is in toothed engagement with the bevel gear wheel 66, on the lower adjusting screw 62. A hand wheel or other suitable operating means 71 is mounted upon, or operatively connected with, the operating shaft 67. The bevel gear wheels and 66 have their hubs in engagement with the adjacent outer surfaces of the machine frame and are mounted between the machine frame and the corresponding bevel gears 69 and on the shaft 67. From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the gear wheels 65 and 66 are rotatively mounted upon the respective adjusting screws 60 and 62, and are adapted to cause said adjusting screws to move in opposite directions successively, according to the direction of rotation of the operating shaft 67 and gears 65, 66, 69 and 70.

The hollow heating and bending roll 6 is provided with aperipheral printing-plate.

on gaging bar or strip 72, which extends longitudiually of the roll, and by preference, from end to end thereof and in parallel relation to the axial center of the roll. The plate holding strip or bar 72 is provided with a side-flange TEL-which projects over a corresponding inner longitudinal marginal notch or recess 74 which is ada ated to re-' ceive and rc-niovably hold in position a corresponding margin or edge 75 of a metallic printing-plate 76, during the operation of heating and bending the plate, which may be eithera stereotype plate or an electrotype plate. The marginal flange of the bar 72 is adapted to project over the adjacent marginal portion of the metallic printingplatei'ii to be heated -and bent, and to reinovably hold said margin of the plate between said flange and the adjacent peripheral surface of the heating and bending roll 6. An outer fiexiblebacking sheet or plate 7 7, which is, by preference, made of flexible sheet metal, extends over the outside of the 'metallic printing-plate,

and may be dispensed with.

printing-plate holding-bar 72, and from end to end of said bar, and has its forward edge 78 secured to the perlpheral surface of the heating and bending roll 6, in advance of said bar 72, by means of a. metallic securing strip 79 and rivets 80, or other suitable securing means. The flexible metallic outer baclc ing plate 77 is of sufficient length to completely or almost completely encircle the bending roll 6, on which it is mounted; and a similar inner or intermediate flexible sheet 81, is mounted in engagement with the inner face of the outer plate 77, and is adapted to he held by the latter in operative engagement with an adjacent intermediate strip, layer or sheet 82, of softer material than metal. The plate 82 may be formed of suitable flexible material, such for example, as hard rubber. And in preparing the metallic printing plate for heating and bending, in

accordance with my improved process and invention, a sheet of compressible material, such, for example, as paper pulp 88, or similar compressible fibrous material, is interposed between the sheet 82 and the metallic printing-plate 7 6 and in contact with the printing side of the metallic printing plate, while the compressible material forming the sheet or layer 83 is in a moist plastic condition. And strips or fragments 84, which may be of paper pulp in a moistened plastic condition, or in the form of av coating or layer of any suitable plastic material, may, if desired, be applied to the printing surface of a metallic printing-plate, so as to fill the spaces between the lines of type, and between the actual printing faces of the type, and other depressions or inden tations in the printing side or face of the In practice, the strips or fragments 84 of pulp or other plastic material or coating are not required between the moist sheet of paper pulp 83 and the printing side of the printing plate And I, by preference, employ the moist or saturated plastic sheet of paper pulp or moist compressible temporaryunatrix-forming 'material, sheet or pad 83 in actual contact with the printing side of the metallic printing plate and without any strips or fragments or other element S t between the sheet of moist compressible material or paper pulp 83 and the surface of the printing plate. (See Figs. 1 and 6.) The layer or filler of compressible material thus applied to the printing surface of a metallic plate to be heated and bent, is adapted to be pressed into tight engagement with the printing surface of the printing-plate while such filler is in a plastic condition, and to be dried and heated, and caused to set either before being bent with the printing-plate, or progressively during the operation of heating and bending the printing-plate, and the filler or temporary matrix, and the flexible backing sheets, or plates, in accordance With my improved processand invention.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily understood andvappreciated by those skilled in the art that any desired number of interchangeable hollow heating andbending rolls of different diameters, for bending metallic printing plates for use upon printing presses having cylinders of different diameters, may be used ;inter 'changeably in any desired order, each being removably mountechand by preference, with :itsaxis in a vertical position, upon and detachably connected with and in fixed relation to the rotary support or turntable, and in position to form a heating chamber Within such interchangeable removable heating and bend ing roll, and communicating with the com bustion chamber formed in, upon, or under the turntable or below the surface thereof, and adapted to be heatedbly agasb-urn'enor other suitableheatingmeans. 5 I

I have found in practice, however, that it is highly desirable to provide means for heating the metallic printing plate, and its plastic filler or layer, sheet or pad 83 of moist or plastic, or moisture-containing or liquid-containing material, such, lfor example, as "moist or moisture containing or liquichcontaining :paper, or saturated or partially saturated pulp or similar material forming a temporary matrix, to a very high temperature, so as to bend the metal lic printing plate evenly and uniformly and at the same-time cause the plastic 9 filler or temporary matrix to be progressively dried, bent and caused to set in its curved form thus causing the moisture in the sheet or pad of moist compressiblefibrous material or paper pulp SSto expandin the form of steam and escape orevaporate, thusacting to dampen or moisten and prevent overheating of the metallic printing plate simultaneously with the operation of progressively heating and bending the metallic printing plate-to be operated upon.

Thetemporary matrix or tiller thus caused to dry and set progressively, fills the recesses and depressions in theprintinp; face of the printing plate which is thus heated and bent uniformly throughout its entire area. V

In bending metallic, printingiplates, which may be either stereotype or electroty'pe plates, by the use of my improved bending machine or apparatus. 1 proceed in practice, by preference, as follows Cue or more layers or sheets 83 of moistplastic or compressible filler material, such for instance, as paper pulp, are'laid upon and-in contact with the printing side or face of the printing plate, While said sheet or sheets-83 are in a moist orplastic condition; and-a backing' sheet or layer "82 of Jfle'siible material,

such for example, as hard rubber, is inter posed between the plastic .or compressible layer 83 and an outer sheet or sheets of fiexiblebaclring material 7. 7, 81, which may be of sheetmetal,

The metallic printing plate, with its layer or layers of plastic material-on the -printing surface thereof, and With the backing sheet orsheets .laid in contact avith and covering the outer surface of the tiller sheet'or layer of plas' ic or (moist material, is then heated progressively from marginto marginthereof, to the desired suitable predetermined temperature to render the metallic printing plate suiiicently pliable and flexible While hot to be bent into the desired shape, although said printing plate is sufficiently hardto retainits shape into Which-it isbent when the operation of heating and bending has been completed and theplateallowed to cool and set While firmly ;held in position upon the periphery of the heatingand bending rollfandbetiveenthe surface of said roll and theuflexible backing sheets during and immediately following the operation of causing the printing ,plate to pass between theopposed peripheral surfaces of a plurality or set of'bending rolls.

I prefer in most instances that the filler coating or layer orsheet- 83 of moist ,paper pulp or similar compressible plastic or fibrous material should be in a moist. oi" plas tic conditio'n While passing between thefrolls in the operation of beingheated and bent, and-thatthe moist and plastic or compressible filler material or .sheet 83 should be heated and dried or a uau' dried While in contact with the inetallioprinting .plateand vvhile being compressed against and bentwiththe printingplate and acting to fill all of the depressions and interstices in \the printing surface of the same. 7

A temporary matrix is thus formed or obtained by heating and drying and causing the plastic filler material su'clhfor example, as the moist sheet of paper pulp 83 to dryer partially dry while in contact with the printing surface of the printing plate and during the operation of heating and bending the latter.

Suitable heating, and bending rolls having been provided, such, for instance, as the rolls above described, which h'aife their 'aiies inparallel relation, and comprise a hollow heating and bending r'olllt'orming a heari g chamber and having its aXis in parallel relation to an adjustable bending roll which may or may not be heated, as desired, I also provide suitable means for supporting said rolls inoperative position, and means for heating and operatmgone or both of said rolls in an efficient manner, as above described, including a rotary support oi'vtu'rntable for supporting and rotatin one of said rolls, and extending laterally beyond guided thereby and with the front upright edge of the print-ing plate and filler clamped in upright position between the heated hollow roll and the flexible backing sheets and in engagement'with the plate-holding bar already described. And the metallicprinting plate, with its filler, pad or sheet of moist compressible pulp or fibrous material, such, for example, as the sheet or pad 83 and backing sheets, are thus caused to pass between the bending rolls, and is heatedto a very high temperature and thereby rendered pliable, and bent to the desired degree of curvature, and at the same time the plastic filler is pressedinto andcaused to fill all of the depressions in the printing side of the printing plate, and progressively dried and hardened in its curved form and during the operation of heating and bending the plate, as already described,

The uniformly curved metallic printing plate, with its filler in contact with its printing surface, is then removed from the bending rolls, and the filler or temporary matrix is removed from the surface of the printing plate, leaving the latter uniformly curved throughout its entire area, and ready for use in printing.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that the above described machine is adapted for bending copper printing plates, zinc plates, or aluminum plates, or printing plates of any suitable material.

My improved printing-plate bending machine constructed in accordance with my invention and having a moist layer or sheet, or a moisturecontaining or liquid-containing sheet or sheets of absorbent material, such as saturated or partially saturated or moistened paper pulp,-orsimilar material adapted to engage the printing side of the printing plate, can be successfully used for bending some printing plates while cold-for example, electrotype plates. I prefer, however, to heat the plates, and to bend them while hot, particularly stereotype plates. And I have found in practice that more satisfactory results are accomplished by heating and moistening the plates to be bent;

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a heating and bending roll iotatively mounted, means for heating said roll, a second roll rotatively mounted adjacent to the first-mentioned heating and bending roll and adapted to admit a metallic printing plate between said rolls, to be heated and bent, a moisturecontaining ele ment adapted to pass between the rolls in engagement withthe face of the printing plate and means for rotating said first menioned heating and bending roll.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hollow heating and bending roll rotatively mounted and forming a heating chamber, means for heating said heating chamber, second bending roll rotatively mounted adjacent to and adapted to co-act with said first-mentioned heating and bending roll in the operation of heating and bending a metallic printing plate, a moisture-containing flexible sheet adapted to pass between said rolls in engagement with the printing side of such metallic printing plate, for filling the interstices and depressions therein and moistening said printing plate to prevent the same from becoming everheated, and means for rotating one of said rolls.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a heating and bending roll rotatively mounted, means for heating said roll, a second bending roll mounted in parallel relation to and adapted to co-act with said first-mentioned heating and bending roll in the operation of heating and bending a metallic printing plate, a flexible backing sheet adapted to pass'between said lastmentioned roll and said printing plate, a moisture-containing sheet of flexible coinpressible material interposed between said III lilii flexible backing sheet and said printing plate and adapted to engage the printing side of the latter for moistening said printing plate and preventing the same from becoming overheated during the operation of heating and bending said plate, and means for rotat ing said first-mentioned heating and bendin roll. 7

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hollo-w'heating and bending roll forming a heating chamber, means for heating said heating chamber, a second bending roll rotatively mounted adjacent to and having its axis in parallel relation to the axis of said first-mentioned heating roll and adapted to co-ac't with said hollow heating and bending roll in the operation of heating and 'bending a metallic printing plate, a flexible metallic backing sheet adapted to extend around a portion of the periphery of said first-mentioned heating and bending roll, a flexible sheet of moisture-containing compressible material interposed between said fiexible metallic backing sheet and the metallic printing plate and adapted to engage the printing side of said printing plate, for filling the interstices and lit) Bil

install depressions in said printing plate and inois tening said printing plate, to prevent the same from becoming overheated during the ,operation' of heating and bending said plate, and means for 'rotating said firstmentioned hollow heating and bending roll.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of hollow heating and bending roll rotatively mounted "and Iorming a heating chamber having inlet and out let openings, heating means coinpri'singa gas burner adapted to heat said heating; chamber, a second bending 011 mounted 'in parallel relation to said hollow heating and bending roll'a'nd adapted to admit a metallic printingplate between said rolls, to be heated and bent, flexible plate-engaging means comprising a inois'ture containing flexiblesheet adapted to pass between said rolls in engagement with the printing side of suchnietallic printing plate, for filling the interstices and depressions therein and inoistening said printing plate to prevent the same from becoming overheated, and means for rotating one of said rolls.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a hollow heating and bending roll rotatively mounted and forming a heating chamber, said roll having a vertical axis, heating means comprising a gas burner adapted to heat said heating chamber, a 'second bending roll n oiint'ed in parallel relation to said hollow heating and b ending roll, a flexible backing I sheet adapted to extend around a ,porti'on of the periphery of said hollow heating and bending roll, for holding a metallic printing plate in position upon and in 'conta 'ctfivith the periphery of said roll, tobe heated and bent, moisteni'ng means interposed.b et'iv'ee-n said flexible backing sheet and "said printing plate and adapted to engage the printing slide ofthe latter, for in'oistening said printing plate, to prev ntthe'sametroni becoiningoverheated am-mg the operation of heating and bending the plate, and means for rotating said first-mentioned heating and bending roll.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination ofa hollow heating and bendinc, roll forming a heating chamber having inlet and outlet openings, said roll having a vertical axis ofrotation, a journal o'n'the upper end of Sara roll, 'ajournal bearing for said journal, tiinitable. adapted to form a rotative support for said hollow heating and bending vroll, a support for said turntable having a fluid passage leadinthrough said turntable and coninn'inicating'vvith the heating chamber in said roll, asupport for said burner, means for connecting said burner with a source of fuel supply, a secondhending roll inounted adjacent to and havingits axis in parallel; relation to the axis of the first mentioned hollow heating and bending roll, and means for rotating said turntable and hollow heating and bending roll.

8. In a machine 0: the class d scribed,

the combination of a hollow heal ahd I bending roll forming a heating chamber having inlet and outlet openings, said roll having a vertical of rotation, a journal on the upper end of said roll, a journal bearing for said journal, a turntable adapted to 7 form a rotative support for said hollow 9. In a machine of the class describedfthe 1 on combination or a'liollow heating and bending roll forming aheating chamber having inlet and outlet openiir s, andliaving avertijcal axis of rotation, a jonriial on the upper end of said roll, a jo'urnal hearing for said. journal, turntable adapted to rotatively support said hollow heating and bending roll, means for detaehably securing said hollow heating and bending rollin. .lixed relaaiis for in tion to said turntable, a support for said turntable, means fol-introducing heated fluid into the interior er said hollow heating and bending roll, a, second bending roll inoiiiited adjacent to and having its axis in parallel adjustable relation to the axis of s'aidiirstmentioned hollow heating and bending roll and means for rotatinn' said rolls.

I 10. In a machine or the class described, the combination of 'a hollow heating and bending roll forming a. heating chamber having inlet and outlet openings and having a vertical axis of rotation, batile plates said 'cl'ia-mber a journalon the upper end of said roll, a journal bearing for said journal a turntable adapted to rotatively support said hollow heatingand bending roll, a support for said turntable, means for detach- I ably securing said hollow heating and bending roll in operative position upon said turn table, means for introducing heated gas into the interior of said holloiv heating; and bending roll during the rotation of the lat ter, a second rotative bendingfroll mounted adjacent to said first-mentioned hollow heating and bending roll and adapted'to admit a metallic printing plate, flexible backing plate and intermediate 'filler sheetmaterial between the peripheries of said rolls, to be heated and bent, and means for rotating said rolls. I I

11.In a mat-tine ofthe class described,

the combination of a hollow heating and bending roll forming a heating chamber having inlet; and outlet openings, said roll having a vertical axis of rotation, a journal on the upper end of said roll, a journalbearing for said journal, a turntable rotatively mounted and adapted to rotatively support said hollow heating and bending roll, said turntable having a peripheral marginal portion projecting beyond the periphery of said roll at the lower end of the latter and adapted to support and guide a metallic printing plate to be heated and bent, means for securing said hollow heating and bending roll in. operative position upon said turntab e, meansfor introducingheated fluid into the interior of said hollowheating and bending roll during the rotation of the same, a. second rotative bending roll mounted adjacent to said first-mentioned; hollow heating and bending roll, and means for rotating the turntable and said hollow heating and bend ing roll.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination or a hollow heating and bending roll forming a heating chamber having inlet and outlet openings, said roll having an upwardly and downwardly extending axis, means for rotatively supporting the upper'end of said roll in operative position, a turntable rotatively mounted and adapted to rotatively support said hollow,

heating and bending roll in operativeposition, said turntable having a peripheral marginalportion projecting beyond the peripheral margin of the lower end of said heating and bending roll, means for securing said roll in operative position upon said turntable, means for introducing heated fluid into the interior of said hollow roll, anti-friction rollers mounted in engagement with the peripheral margin of said turntable, a second rotative bending roll mounted adjacent to said first-mentioned hollow heating and bending roll and adapted to permit the passage of a metallic printing plate between the peripheries of said rolls, and adapted to tend to press the hollow heating and bending roll toward said antifrictionrollers, and means for rotating said turntable and said hollow heating and bending roll,

13. In a machine for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a hollow heating and bending roll, rotative driving mechanism, for rotating said roll,

means for rotatively supporting said driving mechanism, means for detachably connecting the'hollow heating and bending roll with said rotative driving mechanism and adapted to permit the removal of said roll from its support without removing said driving means from its support, and means for heating said roll.

I 14:. In a machine for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a hollow heating and bending roll rotatively mounted, driving means comprising shaft and gear mechanism for-rotatingsaid hea ing and bending roll, means for rotatively supporting said driving shaft and gear mechanism, and means for detachably connecting said hollow heating and bending roll in operative engagement with the driving means and adapted to permit the removalj of said roll from its support independently of and without removing said driving means from its support.

15. In a machine for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a hollow heating and bending roll rotatively mounted, rotative driving mechanism for rotating said roll, means for rotatably supporting said driving mechanism, means for detach-ably connecting said hollow heating and bending roll with said driving mechanism and adapted to'permit the removal of said roll from its support independently of and without removing said driving mechanism from its support, and means for heating said roll.

16. In a device for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a hollow heating and bending roll forming a heating chamber and having a peripheral portion adapted to operatively engage a metallic printing plate to be heated and bent, means for heating said roll, a flexible metallic backing sheet secured to and adapted to extend around a portion of the periphery of said roll and outside of the metallic printing plates to be heated and bent, a moisturecontaining flexible sheet of fibrous material interposed between said flexible metallic backing sheet and the metallic printing plate and in contact with the printing side of said printing plate, for filling the interstices and depressions in said plate and moistening said plate, to prevent the same "from becoming overheated during the operation of heating and bending the plate, a second roll adapted to operatively engage said flexible metallic backing sheet, and means for rotating the hollow heating and bending roll, to simultaneously heat and bend the moistened metallic printing plate. 17. In a machine for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a hollow heating and bending roll, rotative supporting and driving mechanism com'pris ing a turntable mounted in suitable bearings and in supporting engagement with said roll, means for operatively connecting said roll with said supporting and driving mechanism, and means for heating the roll.

18. In a machine for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a hollow heating and bending roll, rotative supporting and driving mechanism mounted in suitable bearings and in supporting engagement with said roll, means for operatively connecting said roll with said supporting and driving mechanism, a burner for heating the roll, and means for supplying fuel to said burner.

19. In a device for bending metallic printing plates, a layer of moisture-containing material adapted to engage the printing side of a printing plate, and means for forcing said material into engagement with and into the interstices and depressions in the printing side of such printing plate, and for simultaneously bending the layer of moisture-containing material and the engaged metallic printing plate together.

20. In a device for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a sheet of moisture-containing material adapted to engage the printing side of a printing plate, means for heat-ing said printing plate, and means for forcing such mois ture-containing material into engagement with and into the interstices and depressions in the printing side of such printing plate, and for simultaneously bending the engaged moisture-containing material and the metallic printing plate together.

21. In a device for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a temporary-matrix-forming moisture-containing element comprising compressible sheet material adapted to engage and fill the interstices and depressions in the printing side of a printing plate, and means for forcing said matrix-forming sheet material into engagement with and into the'interstices and depressions in the printing side of such printing plate and simultaneously heating and bending the engaged matrix-forming material and metallic printing plate toget-her.

22. In a device for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a temporary-matriX-forming moisture-containing element comprising compressible material adapted to engage and fill the interstices and depressions in the printing side of a metallic printing plate, a flexible backing sheet mounted on the opposite side of the matrix-forming material from the printing plate to be operated on, and means adapted to operatively engage said flexible backing sheet and metallic printing plate respec tively, and acting to force the matrixforming material into engagement with and into the interstices and depressions in the metallic printing plate and simultaneously bending the engaged matrix-forming material and metallic printing plate together.

23. In a device for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a temporary-matrix-forming moisture-containing member comprising compressible sheet material adapted-to engage and fill the interstices and depressions in the printing side of a metallic printing plate, means for forcing said matrix-forming sheet material into engagement with and into the interstices and depressions in the printing side of such printing plate and simultaneously bending the engaged matrix-forming material and metallic printing plate together, and means for heating the engaged matrixiorming material and metallic printing plate.

24:. In a device for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a temporary-matrix-forming member comprising plastic compressible sheetmaterial adapted to engage and fill the interstices and depressions in the printing side of a metallic printing plate, a flexible metallic backing sheet mounted on the opposite side of the matrix-forming material from the printing plate to be operated on, intermediate flexiblesheet material interposed between said metallic backing sheet and the matriX-ttorming sheet material, means for heating the engaged matrix-forming material and metallic printing plate, and means adapted to operatively engage said flexible backing sheet and metallic printing plate respectively and acting to compress and force the matrix-forming material into contact with and into the interstices and depressions in the metallic printing plate and simultaneously bend the engaged matrix-forming material and metallic printing plate together. I

25. In a machine for heating and bending metallic printing plates, the combination of a hollow heating and bending roll forming a heating chamber and having a peripheral portion adapted to operatively engage a printing plate to be heated and bent, a temporary-matriX-forming member comprising moisture-containing compressible sheet material adapted to engage and fill the interstices and depressions in the printing side of a metallic printing plate, a flexible metallic backing sheet mounted on the opposite side of the matrix-forming material from the printing plate to be operated on, means for heating the hollow heating and bending roll, a second roll adapted to engage said flexible metallic backing sheet, and means for rotating the hollow heating and bending roll, to simultaneously bend the matrix-forming material and the engaged heated metallic printing plate together.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 12th day of April, 1922.

CHRISTIAN N. SMITH. 

